GWENT boxing hero Jamie Arthur (pictured) has claimed that penny-pinching by Welsh amateur boxing chiefs ruined his Olympic dream.

Wales' Commonwealth Games gold medallist 's amazing outburst comes on the eve of his professional bow in Glasgow.

But amateur boxing chiefs have hit back with venom at Arthur - claiming he turned his back on Wales.

But the 22-year-old Cwmbran star has revealed that he'd prefer to be preparing for next summer's Olympic Games in Athens.

Arthur reckons that a lack of funding available in the Welsh Amateur Boxing Association coffers meant he had no option but to turn professional.

"I would have loved to have gone to the Olympics in Athens," Arthur told the Argus. "It would have been very memorable for me.

"I suppose that's what I'll miss about amateur boxing - all these big events.

"But I have a young family to look after and I couldn't really get the funding which was good enough to look after my family and be a full-time athlete.

"You have to be dedicated as an amateur now with the Welsh Championships, The Four Nations, the Europeans, the World Games and obviously Athens.

"You have to be a full-time athlete and do as much as I'm doing now - so really I would have needed some kind of job and trained full-time.

"Sadly, that's the downfall of Welsh boxing. Those who won the Welsh championships last Friday night should be getting funding.

"But it's always been that you have to win the British title. But if you were in England and you won the ABA title, you would then get the funding to go and challenge for the British title. That's the advantage they have got over us."

Arthur, as a member of his Coed Eva club, was part of a breakaway Welsh federation which was unhappy at a top coaching appointment within the WABA.

But the federation failed to get official recognition from the Amateur Boxing Association and were banned from boxing.

That saw Arthur return to the WABA so he could compete in last summer's Games where he became a national hero overnight after his lightweight victory over Zambia's Dennis Zimba.

But WABA chairman Ray Allen has angrily hit back at Arthur - claiming he turned his back on Wales after the Commonwealth Games.

Allen claims Arthur was due to represent his country in Denmark shortly after Manchester, but opted not to go as he began talks to turn professional with top promoter Frank Warren.

Allen blasted last night: "I feel very nasty towards Arthur. I wouldn't lift a finger for him now. We begged him to stay but he turned his back on Wales.

"He goes on about money but we're an amateur association and how do you think he got to the Commonwealth Games in the first place?"

He added: "I don't wish him any harm tomorrow night but I feel very hurt by everything that's happened. As far as we're concerned he was going to Denmark with us and his new manager told him not to after Arthur had given us his word. That's no way to carry on!"